Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-03-05
were spoken, and the victim fell dead.
1'TMnn counted the kinr

Two, counted the King.
And so the deadly game went on, till some
hundred bodies were stretched in rows be
hind us. / have heard of the gladiatoraI
shows of the Caesars, and of Spanish bull
fights, but l take the liberty of doubling if
they were either of them half as horrible as
this Kukuana witch-hunt. Gladiat0ral
shows and Spanish buIl-fghts at any rate,
contributed to the public amusement, which
certainly was not the case here. The most
confirmed sensation-monger would fight shy
OF sensation if he knew that it was well on
the cards that he would, in his own proper
person, be the subject of the next 'event"
Once we rose and tried to demonstrate,
but were sternly represSed by Twala.
Let the law take its course white men.
These dogs are magicians and evil-doers; it
is well that they should die" was the only
answer vouchsafed to us.
About midnight there was pause. The
witch-tinders gathered themselves together,
apparently exhausted with their bloody
work, and we thought that the whole per
formance was done with. But it was not so,
for presently, to our surprise, the old woman,
GagooI, rose from her crouching position,
supporting herself with stick, staggered off
into the open space. 1t was an extraordinary
sight to see this vulture-headed old creature,
bent nearly double with extreme age, gather
strength by degrees till at last she rushed
about almost as actively as her ill-Omened
pupils. 70 and fro she ran, chanting to her
self, till suddenly she made dash at a tall
man standing in front of one of the regi-
ments and touched him. As she did so q
groan went up from the regiment, which he
l,l lytYk al
two of It's members seized him and brought
him up for execution. We afterward learned
that lie was a man Of great wealth and i'm
portance, being, indeed, cousin of the
kings.
He was slain, and the king counted one
hundred and three. Then Gagool again
sprung to and fro, gradually drawing nearer
and nearer to ourselves.
"Hang me if don't believe she is going to
try her games on us" calculated Good, i'll
horror.
'Nonsensev' said Sir Henry.
AS for myself, as | saw that old fiend
dancing nearer and nearer my heart posi-
lively sunk in my boots. | glanced behind
us at the long rows of corpses and shiyered.
Nearer and nearer waltzed GagoOl look
ing for all the world like an animated
crooked stick, her h0rrld eyes cleaning and
glowing with a most unholy luster.
Nearer she came, nearer yet, every pair of
ewes i'm that vast assemblage watching her
movements with intense anxiety. At last
She stood still and pointed.
(which is it to be?' asked Sir Henry to
4 himself.
In moment all doubts were set at rest,
I for the old woman had rushed in and
touched Um5opa, alias lgnosi, on the
shoulder.
4 him, kill him, he is full Of evil; kill him, tho
i stranger, before blood flows for him. Slay
him, king"
There was a pause, which l instantly
took advantage Of
Go kingr | called OFT, rising from my
seat, this man is the servant Of thy guests.
he is their dog; whosoeyer sheds the blood
! of our dog sheds our blood. BY the sacred
law of hospitality l claim protection for
for him."